Assembly Members, Challengers Sign APN Poverty Solutions Pledge

Last month, the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey invited all candidates for the New Jersey assembly to sign the Poverty Solutions Pledge, which recognizes the impact of significant levels of poverty in every district in the state, and calls on candidates to work with anti-poverty partners in promoting solutions.

The Anti-Poverty Network thanks the following assembly members and candidates who have signed the Poverty Solutions Pledge:

District 2 (Atlantic county)

Colin Bell, candidate

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties)

Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro

District 6 (Burlington and Camden counties)

Majority Leader Assemblyman Louis Greenwald

Deputy Speaker Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex counties)

Assemblyman Daniel Benson

Steven Welzer, candidate

Jo Ann Cousin, candidate

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer counties)

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora

Assemblywoman Elizabeth Muoio

District 16(Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset counties)

Maureen Vella, candidate

Andrew Zwicker, candidate

District 19 (Middlesex county)

Deputy Speaker Assemblyman John Wisniewski

District 20 (Union county)

Assemblyman Jamel Holley

Assemblywoman Annette Quijano

District 24 (Morris, Sussex and Warren counties)

Kenneth Collins, candidate

District 25 (Morris and Somerset counties)

Republican Leader Assemblyman Anthony Bucco

District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic counties)

Jimmy Brash, candidate

District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean counties)

James Keady, candidate

District 32 (Bergen and Hudson counties)

Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez

Assembly speaker Assemblyman Vincent Prieto

District 34 (Essex and Passaic counties)

Deputy Majority Leader Assemblyman Thomas Giblin

Speaker Emeritus Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver

District 36 (Bergen and Passaic counties)

Deputy Speaker/Budget Chair Assemblyman Gary Schaer

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic counties)

Assemblyman Tim Eustace

District 39 (Bergen and Passaic counties)

Mayor John DeRienzo, candidate

Mayor Jeffrey Goldsmith, candidate

“The rising levels of poverty in our state is heartbreaking and unacceptable," said Assemblyman Schaer. "That’s why I have fought hard, along with my democratic colleagues, to ensure social programs are in place at the county and state levels so that our most vulnerable populations have access to healthcare, food stamps and other nutritional assistance. It is our moral obligation to ensure that our children don’t go to bed hungry and that our residents who rely on various forms of governmental assistance can access it in a timely manner."

The Anti-Poverty Network, a coalition representing more than 45 organizations, throughout New Jersey as well as individual members, is inviting candidates to affirm that their district will best thrive when all residents have access to decent housing, basic nutrition, and economic opportunity.

“One of the most important responsibilities of our state government is to provide a helping hand to people in need,” said Assemblyman Wisniewski. “Our commitment to fight poverty reflects the values of our state and its people and it is one of the prime reasons why I take great pride in calling New Jersey my home.”

Almost 40 percent of households in New Jersey struggle to afford basic household necessities, like housing, food, transportation, child care, and health care, according to the ALICE study published last year by the United Way of Northern New Jersey. APN’s Poverty Solutions Pledge includes calculations of the numbers of people in each county living in true poverty, defined as 200% of the federal poverty level. In real world terms, this encompasses people earning less than $48,500 for a family of four, which still falls far short of the $61,200 “survival budget” for a family of four, according to the United Way’s report.

"Tackling poverty is one of the most important struggles here in NJ,” said Assemblyman Taliaferro. “It is my pleasure to support an organization that works tirelessly to reduce and end poverty by fighting for decent housing, basic nutrition and economic opportunity for our neighbors. The Anti-Poverty Network pledge affirms my commitment to improving the livelihood of our neighbors in the third legislative district."

In the coming weeks, APN is encouraging New Jerseyans to contact their district’s candidates for Assembly to thank those who have already signed the pledge, and to urge those who have not, to please sign the pledge.

"This pledge is about awareness and action,” said Serena Rice, Executive Director of the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey. “Awareness requires the recognition that substantial numbers of people in every district are struggling to pay just their basic bills. Action requires the elected leaders who represent these people to commit themselves to working with community partners to advance real solutions."

The Poverty Solutions Pledge reads:

As a candidate for Assembly in District X which encompasses LIST COUNTIES, I recognize that there are X number of people (X percentage) living in true poverty in these counties. True poverty is defined as those earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level. I believe that my district will best thrive when all residents have access to decent housing, basic nutrition, and economic opportunity. If elected, I pledge to work with the Anti-Poverty Network and its members to prevent, reduce, and end poverty in my district and throughout New Jersey.

The Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey (APN) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that seeks the prevention, reduction, and end of poverty in New Jersey through community education, empowerment of partners, and advocacy for solutions. Our membership includes diverse partners including people with lived experience of poverty, non-profit and community-based organizations, faith-based communities, elected and government officials, private businesses, and all concerned individuals. We are committed to continue this work until we end poverty in every community of New Jersey.